Clock mechanism for signals.



F. 0. WARN-ER. CLOCK MECHANISM FOR SIGNALS.

- A PPLIGATION FILED FEB. 25, 1907.

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rue NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. cy

PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

FRANK O. WARNER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CLOCK MECHANISM FOR SIGNALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1 907.

Application filed February 25, 1907. Serial No- 359,146.

To LLZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK O. WARNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock Mechanisms for Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplatescertain new and useful improvements in signaling apparatus, and the invention has for its object an improved construction of clock mechanism for signals, including an indicator arranged to be actuated by the closing of an electric circuit and adapted to indicate the exact time of the happening of an event, such as the passage of a train past a given point.

With these and other objects in View as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts which I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point the novel features in the appended claims.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also .to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved clock mechanism for signals; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof with arts in side elevation; and, Fig. 3 is a detai perspective view of one of the yieldable fingers swing one Way only on the outer ends of arms 6 and 7, respectively, from which, in

the present instance, they project in a lateral direction.

The arm 6 extends laterally from and is secured to one end of a hollow stub shaft 8 which is provided at its opposite end with a pinion 9 keyed or otherwise rigidly secured thereon, and which is journaled in and projectsfrorn one side of a framework embodying spaced side bars or sills 10 and 11 secured together by end bars or sills 12 and 13. The pinion 9 meshes with a spur gear wheel 14 on the outer end of a spindle 15 which is journaled in said framework, and said spindle carries, within the framework a drum 16. The opposite end of said spindle 15 is provided with another spur gear wheel 17 which meshes with a pinion 18 fast on the adjacent end of the oppositely extending hollow stub shaft 19 journaled in the opposite side of said framework. Said last named shaft carries an indicating hand 20 secured to its outer end and adapted to point to the indicator dial 1 which displays on its outer face hour and minute designations corresponding to the characters on the face of the clock dial 1.

The arm 7 projects laterally from and is secured on the end of a shaft 21, which eX tends through the two hollow stub shafts 8 and 19 and across the framework, and carries at its opposite end a hand or pointer 22 adapted to point to the minute designations on the indicator disk 1*, it being understood that the hand 20 is intended for the hour designations of such disk. On the shaft 21 and within the framework a spur pinion meshes with a spur gear wheel 24 on one end of a spindle 25 which is journaled within the framework and carries or supports a drum 26. Each of these drums is rotated by means of a weighted cord 27 or equivalent device,

and both of said drums are normally held against rotation by means of a brake 28. In the present instance, said brake consists of a beam pivotally mounted upon the cross bar or sill 12 and projects across and in contact with the thickened rims 26 and 16 of the drums 26 and 16. The opposite free end of the beam 28 may be provided with a weight 29, if desired or found necessary.

In order to release the brake or lift the beam 28 from engagement with the drums 32 fulcrumed between standards 33 on the ventionally the circuit 35 as being closed by the passage of a locomotive or train past a given point, the purpose of the invention in the present example being to indicate on the indicator disk I the exact time a train passes a signal or switch tower, upon the exterior of which, in sight of the track, said disk is secured.

From the foregoing description in connec tion with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that as soon as the circuit is closed by the passage of the train past the tower and into the block, the magnets will be energized and effect the release 'of the drums 16 and 26. This will result in the simultaneous rotation of the said drums, and the conse quent revoluble movement of the hands or pointers 20 and 22 and their shafts, until such shafts are stopped by the contact of the fingers 4 and 5 with the clock hands 2 and 3, at the point such clock hands happen to be at the time. The circuit will then be opened, and this will result in the application of the brake 28 so that the hands 20 and 22 will be held stationary and thereby indicate to the engineer of the next on-coming train the exact time at which the preceding train has passed into the block.

It is, of course, to be understood that the hands 2 and 3 of the clock are so arranged that they will stop the rotation of the parts by contact with the fingers 4 and 5. The fingers 4 and 5 are free to swing in one direction only on their supporting arms 6 and 7 so that the clock hands 2 and 3 may turn freely and not be interfered with, while at the same time such hands will limit the revolution of the fingers in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a clock, its dial and hands, of an indicator disk provided with characters corresponding to the characters of the clock dial, pointers adapted to revolve over the face of said disk, shafts upon which said pointers are mounted, means for revolving said shafts, fingers carried by the respective shafts, said fingers extending into the path of the clock hands and adapted to come in contact therewith to stop the rotation of the shafts, means for holding said shaft-revolving means inoperative, and means for automatically releasing such holding means.

, 2. The combination with a clock, its dial and hands, of an indicator disk provided with characters corresponding to and in registry with the characters of the clock dial, pointers adapted to revolve over the face of said disk, independent shafts upon which said pointers are mounted, means for revolving said shafts, fingers carried by the respective shafts and in registry with said pointers, said fingers extending into the path of said clock hands, and adapted to engage the same to stop. the rotation of the shafts, means for holding said shaft revolving means inoperative, and means for automatically releasing such holding means.

3. The combination with a clock, its dial and hands, of an indicator disk provided with characters corresponding to and in registry with the characters of the clock dial, pointers adapted to revolve over the face of said disk, independent shafts upon which said pointers are mounted, means for revolving said shafts, fingers carried by the respective shafts and in registry with said pointers, said fingers extending into the path of said clock hands, and adapted to engage the same to stop the rotation of the shafts;

means for holding said shaft revolving means inoperative, and means for automatically releasing such holding means, the said fingers being yieldable in one direction only.

4. The combination with a clock, its dial and hands, of an indicator disk, pointers mounted to revolve across the face of said disk, a shaft upon which one of said pointers is mounted, a weight actuated drum adapted to revolve said shaft, a framework in which said drum is journaled, another shaft to which the other pointer is secured, a third shaft, said latter shaft and the first named shaft being provided with fingers adapted to extend into the path of movement of the clock hands, another weight actuated drum adapted to rotate the shafts for the said other pointer, means for holding said drums against movement, and means for automatically releasing said holding means.

5. The combination with a-clock and its dial and hands, of an indicator disk, two pointers mounted to revolve around the face of said disk, a shaft to which one of said pointers is connected, a framework in which said shaft is journaled, an arm secured to the said shaft and provided with a finger proa spindle journaled in the framework and carrying said gear wheel, a weight actuated drum mounted on said spindle, another spin- (lle journaled in said framework, a weight actuated drum mounted on said last named spindle, gear wheels secured to the ends of said last named spindle, pinions meshing with the said gear wheels, hollow shafts journaled in the framework, and to which said last named pinions are secured, said hollow shafts extending oppositely from the framework and inclosing the first named shaft, the other pointer being secured to one of said hollow shafts, an arm secured to the other hollow shaft and provided with a finger projecting into the path of movement of the other clock hand, means for holding said drums as against movement, and automatic means for releasing said holding means.

6. The combination with a clock and its dial and hands, of an indicator disk, two pointers mounted to revolve around the face of said disk, a shaft to which one of said pointers is connected, a framework in which said shaft is journaled, an arm secured to the said shaft and provided with a finger proj ecting into the path of movement of one of the clock hands, a pinion mounted on said shaft, a gear wheel meshing with said pinion, a spindle journaled in the framework and carrying said gear wheel, a weight actuated drum mounted on said spindle, another spindle journaled in said framework, a welght actuated drum mounted on said last named spindle, gear wheels secured to the ends of said last named spindle, pinions meshing with the said gear wheels, hollow shafts journaled in the framework, and to which said last named pinions are secured, said hollow shafts extending oppositely from the framework and inclosing the first named shaft, the other pointer being secured to one of said hollow shafts, a beam pivotally mounted at one end in the framework and free at its other end, said drums being rovided with rims arranged for engagement y said beam, whereby to hold said drum stationary, and automatic means for moving said beams out of engagement with said rims.

7. The combination with a clock and its dial and hands, of an indicator disk, two pointers mounted to revolve around the face of said disk, a shaft to which one of said pointers is connected, a framework in which said shaft is journaled, an arm securedto the said shaft and provided with a finger projecting into the path of movement of one of the clock hands, a pinion mounted on said shaft, a gear wheel meshing with said pinion, a spindle ournaled in the framework and carrying said gear wheel, a weight actuated drum mounted on said spindle, another spindle journaled in said framework, a weight actuated drum mounted on said last named spindle, gear wheels secured to the ends of said last named s indle, pinions meshing with the said gear w eels, hollow shafts journaled in the framework, and to which said last named pinions are secured, said hollow shafts extending oppositely from the framework and inclosing the first named shaft, the

other pointer being secured to one of said hollow shafts, a beam ivoted at one end in the framework, the ot er end of the beam being free, the drums being provided with rims with which said beam is adapted to engage whereby to hold the drums stationary, an electro-magnet, an armature therefor, a rocking lever to one arm of which said armature is connected, the other arm of said lever extending underneath the free end of the beam, a support for said lever, a circuit in which said electro-magnet is included, and means for closing said circuit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK O. WARNER. [L. s.] 

